Bravery of Kate's bodyguard after husband's inquest

Kate Middleton's closest personal bodyguard took part in a dry run for the big day today, weeks after an inquest into her husband's death.

Sergeant Emma Probert sat in the front seat of the Rolls-Royce that will be used to take Miss Middleton to Westminster Abbey.

The armed officer will be in the same seat on Friday when she will become the last line of defence for the future queen.

She appeared relaxed and composed in the morning full-dress rehearsal involving 1,500 members of the military and police. But just weeks ago an inquest heard how her husband Michael, 42, died in a freak skiing accident while they were on holiday in a French resort.

Mr Probert, who was also a Met officer, died after the binding on one of his skis shattered, causing him to slam into a wooden post while his wife looked on.

The inquest heard how the Proberts were in the alpine resort Alpe d'Huez when the tragedy happened in March 2009. The couple were on an easy blue run when Mr Probert, an expert skier, fell. Sgt Probert, 39, who was praised for her heroics in the aftermath of the 7/7 London bombings, was assigned to protect Miss Middleton last year after Kate's engagement to Prince William was announced. She was previously employed looking after princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Miss Middleton is said to have developed a close bond with Sgt Probert.

One royal source once said: "They already get on well, which is brilliant as they will be spending so much time in each other's company." She is part of a three-strong armed close protection squad assigned to Miss Middleton.

Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana's former bodyguard, told the Standard: "For any big ceremony like this there will be a run-through and a protection officer will always be there. She'll be reporting back to Kate on what it was like today. If the chemistry is right between them - and we've heard that it is - she'll be telling Kate exactly what to expect on the day.

"What she was doing today is standard procedure. It was all about timings and she would have been there in an observational capacity to make sure Kate knows exactly how it will be on the day."